Chương 1: When the Bard Met the Red Dragon

"The red dragon is catching up!"

"We need to ditch some of the weight so the carriage can run faster!"

"How about throwing in a bag of treasure?"

"What a joke! I'd rather die than give up even a single gold coin!"

"What should we do... Wait, why are you looking at me like that? What are you going to do?"

"Sorry, Richard, we have to ask you to get off the bus. If you have anyone to complain about, blame yourself for being too weak!"

boom!

Glug glug!

Before Richard could even beg for mercy, he was kicked off the carriage by a strong warrior and rolled into the grass by the roadside.

After being stunned for a while, he finally came to his senses, got up from the ground, and looked around.

The carriage ahead receded into the distance, while the dragon's shadow on the horizon drew ever closer.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and only one thought remained in his mind: I'm doomed now.

As despair spread through his heart, Richard's life experiences began to flash before his eyes...

Richard, full name Richard Targaryen.

He's a time traveler.

There's no need to dwell on the past; in short, the enthusiastic Miss Da Yun took care of everything.

Then he arrived here, in this world of swords and magic called Terella, and was reborn as the fetus in the womb of a female adventurer.

And then...

He was abandoned in the women's bathhouse, unlocking the orphan achievement before his parents could perform a ritual to appease the heavens.

To be fair, it's better than being thrown into the toilet.

Even more fortunately, he was picked up that very night by a passing male bard—don't ask why a male poet would be passing by a women's bathhouse—anyway, he was saved.

The poet became his "father," raising him and, before his death, passing him on his lute (a guitar-like instrument), making him yet another bard.

In Richard's previous life, the term "bard" referred to street performers in medieval Europe who could write poetry and sing, and whose niche was similar to that of storytellers in the East.

In Terella, bards are theoretically a class of extraordinary beings similar to warriors and mages. They excel in social skills and various miscellaneous arts, and can unleash magic through music and language to strengthen their allies and weaken their enemies.

But in reality...

Most bards don't actually have much combat ability and it's difficult for them to join decent adventurer teams. All they can do is sing a few cheesy songs on the streets or in taverns to earn a living.

Unfortunately, Richard was just such a third-rate poet.

His body's talent was quite ordinary, and he didn't receive any special advantages. He didn't even fully awaken his past life memories when he was a minor.

After struggling for over twenty years, he has only learned one low-level spell, and even if he were to fight a farmer in the field, he would most likely lose.

The only redeeming quality is its attractive appearance, which might slightly enhance the reader's sense of immersion.

Logically speaking...

Given his circumstances, the best thing for him would be to find a small town to make a living, and if the opportunity arose, he could sell himself to a wealthy older woman and live a life where he would have no worries about food and drink but would feel empty inside.

However, Richard was unwilling to spend his life like this.

After all, he finally arrived in a world with extraordinary powers, yet he's living much the same life as in his previous life...

Then his time travel was for nothing, wasn't it?

He also wants to master great power, participate in thrilling adventures, acquire mountains of treasure, and finally leave his name in the history of this world!

And so, after a period of internal struggle...

Richard stepped out of his comfort zone.

He managed to join an adventurer team called Starlight Sword by accepting only half the pay and writing poems for free to promote the team. He planned to gain experience in the team and embark on his own legendary journey.

At first, everything went relatively smoothly.

Richard followed the squad and completed some simple tasks to clear out the goblins, learning quite a bit in the process.

Until last night...

While chasing a group of kobolds, the team accidentally entered an unknown underground ruin and discovered a red dragon's lair at the center of the ruin!

Even more coincidentally, the Red Dragon was not at home at the time, leaving behind only a few weak little dog-headed humans who had been taken in as servants to guard the gold and silver treasures scattered all over the ground!

What happened next is not hard to imagine.

Most of the team members were instantly blinded by greed.

Richard was among the few who remained lucid—as a bard, he knew far too much about the red dragons and was well aware of their terror and their intense attachment to their treasure.

Unfortunately, as a newcomer, he had no say at all.

In the end, the squad members managed to drive away the kobold guards and then loaded four sacks of treasure onto the wagon.

Unfortunately, just as they were preparing to leave, the owner of the nest returned.

As the terrifying roar of a dragon echoed across the sky, the team members were terrified and quickly got into their vehicle to escape.

Even with all the buffs the mages in the party used, the wagon loaded with treasure still couldn't go fast enough.

Reality forced them to make a choice: to lighten the load on the carriage.

They then compared the value of the treasure with that of the poet, and threw the poet off the carriage...

"Those bastards!"

Back to the present, Richard recalled the scene just now and couldn't help but curse angrily.

This anger also somewhat dispelled his despair and ignited the courage in his heart.

He doesn't want to die here!

He must live!

He will give those bastards who abandoned him the punishment they deserve!

Then embark on the legendary path again and leave your mark on the history of this world!

Richard roused himself, surveyed his surroundings, and then ran toward the hilltop beside him.

The mountains there are steep and rugged, perhaps there's a place for him to hide...

at the same time.

horizon.

Zoya Vesarak Denise finally flew close.

After gazing into the distance and discovering that the carriage had completely disappeared into the mountains and forests, the red dragon realized that it would be difficult for it to catch up with the other party. It couldn't help but angrily breathe fire into the sky, dyeing the swirling clouds crimson!

Despicable thief!

Don't think you can escape now!

The great Zoya can track down every lost treasure. No matter where you run, I will catch you!

After venting her anger, she turned her head and looked at Richard running on the hillside next to her.

It seems like this guy was abandoned by his companions?

What a pathetic insect.

But no matter how pathetic, he's still a thief!

I'll let you die before your companions do, right under my claws!

Zoya grinned maliciously, flapped her wings, and swooped down on Richard amidst the howling wind.

on the ground.

Richard glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that the dragon's enormous shadow instantly covered his own small shadow.

Mom!

His hair stood on end, and without time to search carefully, he spotted a crevice in the rock in front of him and squeezed in without hesitation.

Boom!

The next second, the red dragon Zoya landed outside the crevice.

Its massive body shook the mountain, and its sharp claws instantly carved deep marks into the rocks.

Fortunately, the crevice Richard entered was narrow and sturdy enough.

Although Zoya made a scene outside, she couldn't hurt him.

This gave him a slight sense of relief.

Meanwhile, Zoya, her attack failing, couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and instinctively taunted, "Foolish human, lowly insect, is hiding all you can do?"

Why not hide?

Can I kiss you with that big mouth of yours that can fit me completely inside?

Richard was now desperate. He knew the red dragon would never let him go, so he simply retorted:

"You fat-bellied gecko, you bald hen, you think I'm avoiding you? I just don't want to see your ugly face!"

Gecko? Hen? Ugly, ugly face?

Zoya was stunned for a moment, then roared:

"You filthy, talking-nothing human! Your inferior eyes are completely incapable of appreciating the beauty of other races! I clearly have gleaming scales, burning eyes, a graceful neck..."

Richard blinked.

I didn't expect that you, a red dragon, would care so much about your appearance.

But so what?

I'm just inferior, I just don't understand!

I am an insect!

Having faced death head-on, Richard's mental state actually improved, and he shouted excitedly:

"Miss Red Dragon, who understands any of this babbling nonsense you're spouting? Why don't you learn how to transform into human form, then perk up and explore the mysteries of life with me, and convince me with your actions?"

Zoya:???

After a few seconds of silence, Zoya completely lost her temper.

"Go to hell! You insect, you inferior species, you monkey, you weakling, you piece of trash..."

She opened her mouth wide, gathering her strength.

Richard noticed her movements through the gap and felt a chill run down his spine.

broken!

This dragon is about to breathe fire!

Her body couldn't fit through the gap, but her flames could!

Terrified, Richard hurriedly crawled deeper into the crevice in the rock, trying to escape the range of the dragon's flames.

However, the deeper Richard went, the narrower the crevice became, to the point that Richard had a vague feeling that he was about to get stuck.

He couldn't help but wonder if he was going to become material for Secret Garden.

But the approaching high temperatures quickly dispelled his doubts.

Staying where you are is the same as dying, so you might as well fight!

He contracted his chest and abdomen, using all his strength to squeeze through the crack!

at last……

With a soft "poof," just before the billowing flames arrived, he squeezed through the narrowest part of the crevice in the rock, and suddenly the view opened up before him—a square grotto with obvious signs of human intervention!

Were we saved?

Outside, Zoya peered through the crack with her big eyes and saw that Richard had escaped once again.

After frantically clawing at the rocks for a while, she calmed down slightly and grinned again.

"Human, you don't actually think you're safe, do you?"

"Let the great Zoya tell you the cruel truth: the place you are in now is a corner of the underground ruins where I reside!"

"In other words, you've stumbled into my dragon's lair!"

"There are only two exits there: the main entrance and this crevice in the rock. Now, I'm going to completely seal off this crevice!"

"You think you're so good at hiding? Well then, have some fun in my lair~"

"I guarantee you'll die a very, very, very gruesome death!"

inside.

Richard heard the sound of rocks rolling down and saw the light coming through the crack gradually diminish, realizing that what the red dragon said was true.

He was trapped like a turtle in a jar, unable to escape.

But he did not fall into despair again.

Anyway, he survived the first wave of attacks, didn't he?

This experience alone is enough to brag about all day at a pub!

As a dedicated poet, even if it's just to brag, he has to persevere!

Richard sat on the ground for a moment to rest, then stood up, intending to explore his surroundings first.

Outside the grotto is a corridor wide enough for two people to walk side by side.

But halfway there, Richard found that it was so dark ahead that he could barely see anything.

Perhaps we should think of a way to provide lighting first?

Just as he was pondering, a figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a humanoid creature with only reddish-brown scales and a lizard's head!

Oh no, it's a kobold!

Although these monsters have "dog" in their names, they look more like lizardmen, and they have dragon blood flowing through their veins—it's unknown which monstrous dragon did this—but in any case, they have become close to dragons because of this, and have voluntarily pledged allegiance to the red dragon of this place, becoming her servants!

Richard recalled the relevant information in his mind and took a large step back.

However, the kobold with darkvision had already noticed him and drew a longsword he had picked up from somewhere, howling as it charged at him.

Richard ran back to the cave, focusing his mind to prepare to cast a spell.

To be fair, as a poet, although his melee combat ability is terrible, he is actually stronger than the skinny kobold.

Unfortunately, he was now unarmed, while his opponent had a sword.

Therefore, his only remaining hope was to use charm magic—the only magic he knew. If he succeeded, he could make the kobold dizzy and treat him as an ally.

When he was ready, the kobold chased him into the cave.

He quickly chanted the incantation and unleashed the magic!

Then, the kobold's figure blurred...

He chuckled and continued swinging his sword at Richard!

Damn it, the seduction failed!

I know my spellcasting ability is poor, but is it really that bad?

Even the will of the kobolds couldn't be defeated!

Richard dodged the attacks in a flustered manner, while inwardly lamenting once again.

Why do I have to be such a terrible bard?

Suddenly, a series of semi-transparent characters appeared before his eyes.

You have successfully charmed the one-handed sword that has been rekindled.

[The one-handed sword that's been rekindled: What a handsome human! Must we really cut him down...? Oh no, the next attack is a high sweep! Dive!] Richard: Huh?